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If the chestnut colt with four white feet can repeat his Derby success in the $1.5 million Preakness, he’ll set himself up for a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes.

Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome works out on a foggy afternoon at Pimlico ahead of Saturday's Preakness. (Patrick Semansky / The Associated Press)

By Beth HarrisThe Associated Press

Fri., May 16, 2014

BALTIMORE—California Chrome has run away from the competition in five consecutive victories, winning by an average of over five lengths.

The Kentucky Derby winner has had it his way ever since Victor Espinoza climbed aboard back in December when the streak began.

Whether they do again in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday depends on a good trip, the tactics used by the chestnut colt’s nine rivals and a little luck. California Chrome is the even-money favourite against nine rivals.

“When you run a 3-5 shot, you’ve got a lot more pressure on you knowing you’re going to be the favourite, but I think we can handle it,” trainer Art Sherman said.

California Chrome galloped two miles in the rain Friday. A small blister in the colt’s throat that caused him to cough a day earlier was blown out of proportion, according to Alan Sherman, Art’s son and assistant trainer.

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“California Chrome is fine. His throat is fine. He had a little tickle,” he said. “He is not scratching from the Preakness.”

The colt had a similar blister before his Derby win. He was being treated with a glycerin throat wash.

If the chestnut colt with four white feet can repeat his Derby success in the $1.5 million Preakness, he’ll set himself up for a Triple Crown try in three weeks in the Belmont Stakes.

It has been 36 years since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become horse racing’s 11th Triple Crown winner.

“The Triple Crown means so much, but I’m old school,” Art Sherman said. “Let’s just go one race at a time.”

California Chrome extended his winning streak to five with a thrilling victory in the Derby two weeks ago, when Espinoza kept him no worse than third in the 19-horse fray before accelerating in the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

In the Preakness, California Chrome will break from the No. 3 post, a spot that has seen 11 winners but none since Prairie Bayou in 1993.

“If he runs his race, and he’s come back good from the Kentucky Derby, he should be tough in there,” Espinoza said.

Social Inclusion is the 5-1 second choice and is one of eight horses coming in fresh, having skipped the Kentucky Derby. Only two Derby horses — Ride On Curlin (seventh) and General a Rod (11th) — have returned to challenge California Chrome in the Preakness.

“You need a good trip, a good setup and to have everything go your way,” said Mike Maker, who trains General a Rod. “Obviously, California Chrome is head and shoulders above everybody so far. He’s proved it, and every race, he’s continued to do so.”

Billy Gowan oversees Ride On Curlin, who has started just as many races in his young career (10) as the Derby winner. He’ll have a new jockey in Joel Rosario, who replaces Calvin Borel.

“I’ve got a whole lot of respect for California Chrome,” Gowan said. “But I’d like to try him one time at the top of the stretch and see how we are.”

That’s the point in the race where Espinoza has turned California Chrome loose during their winning streak. In the Preakness, the speed horses will break from the gate on the outside of California Chrome. Rivals like Social Inclusion and Ride On Curlin could try to box in the Derby winner in an attempt to put pressure on him early.

“But he’s not chicken-hearted, by no means,” Sherman said. “My biggest concern is the first 70 yards leaving the gate. I don’t want him to get impeded behind horses with no place to go. All you can do is hope for a good trip.”

Sherman calls California Chrome a “push-button horse,” meaning Espinoza can pretty much position the colt anywhere he wants in the race.

“He doesn’t have to go to the lead, but if you ask him to run, he’ll give you a burst,” the trainer said. “The way he wins races, blows them away, blows my mind.”

Six of the past eight Derby winners did not win the Preakness, and there’s a posse of contenders that would love to extend that history.

Post time is 6:18 p.m.

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